Hazmat


$200 Million More Approved for Hanford Cleanup

"This land and groundwater cleanup is an important puzzle piece in the larger Hanford Project," said EPA Regional Administrator Chris Hladick. "Since these areas are virtually on the banks of the Columbia River, this work to further reduce toxic and radiological threats to the river is particularly important."

A nuclear waste cask is loaded onto a barge during the Sandia National Laboratories "triathlon." (Photo courtesy Sandia National Laboratories)

Sandia Details 'Transport Triathlon' Results

The eight-month test involved a waste transportation and storage cask fresh off the assembly line being loaded with three surrogate fuel rod assemblies from the United States, Spain, and South Korea and then traveling from Spain to Colorado and back again by truck, ship, and train.

Home Depot to Pay $27.84 Million for Hazardous Waste and Record Disposal Violations

The company's stores and facilities were found to have improperly managed the disposal of aerosol cans, batteries, electronics, pesticides, paint, and other items, as well as customer information.

DOJ Seeks Contempt Order Against Pesticide Manufacturer

A May 2017 court order required the defendants to comply with the 2011 consent decree, but HPI and Garvey continue to store thousands of pounds of uncharacterized, often unidentified, chemicals, some with labels indicating they have been stored for a dozen years or more, according to DOJ, which said many of HPI's facilities lack functional fire suppression equipment.

Canadian Coast Guard Seeks Proposals for Bulk Oil Removal from Wrecked Freighter

Scott Simms, Member of Parliament for Coast of Bays – Central – Notre Dame, announced Wednesday that in the coming months the Canadian Coast Guard will be seeking proposals from qualified marine salvage companies for bulk oil removal from the wreck of the Manolis L.

DOE Completes Evaluation of Hanford's Tunnel 2, Finds 'High' Risk of Collapse

The two PUREX storage tunnels hold mixed radioactive and chemical waste. A section of Tunnel 1 collapsed May 9, and state authorities then ordered DOE and CH2M HILL Plateau Remediation Company to immediately assess the integrity of both.

Proposals Sought for IAEA Conference on Protecting Nuclear Facilities

The IAEA International Conference on Physical Protection of Nuclear Material and Nuclear Facilities will be held Nov. 13-17, 2017, in Vienna, Austria.

Settlement Reached to Clean Up Navajo Nation Uranium Mines

Cyprus Amax and Western Nuclear have agreed to perform removal site evaluations, engineering evaluations, cost analyses, and cleanups at the 94 mines. In return for that commitment, the United States, on behalf of the Department of the Interior and the Department of Energy, agrees to place $335 million into a trust account to help fund the cleanup.



DOE Consulting with IAEA on Surplus Plutonium Disposal at Savannah River

In a Record of Decision published in March 2016, DOE's National Nuclear Security Administration announced that this amount of surplus plutonium at SRS would be "dispositioned" using the dilute and dispose approach.

Chernobyl Reactor Shield's Move Completed

A ceremony in Chernobyl on Nov. 29 marked the successful conclusion of the sliding operation, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development announced.

Spend a day in a data center and you will come away with a deep appreciation that indoor noise exposure is a priority safety consideration. (Digital Realty Trust, Inc. photo)

Data Center EH&S 101

Stakeholders' concerns range from asbestos and lead-based paint typically found in older and/or legacy data centers to fire-resistant clothing, contractor and construction management, elevated work such as portable and fixed ladders, and rooftop maintenance.

This article originally appeared in the April 2016 issue of Environmental Protection.

DOE Resumes Search for Nuclear Fuel and High-Level Waste Repository

DOE will follow the process laid out in a strategy document from 2013. The strategy is to establish a pilot interim storage facility that mainly will accept used nuclear fuel from reactors that have already been shut down; a larger interim storage facility; and one or more long-term geologic repositories.

Hand injuries from chemicals are a leading cause of injury in the cleaning industry.

Is This the End of Cleaning Chemicals as We've Known Them?

Engineered-water cleaning systems do work. They are an effective alternative to chemical cleaning that are not only very environmentally friendly, but a cost savings as well.

Shell Oil Products Fined for Anacortes Refinery Release

L&I assessed one willful violation and the maximum $70,000 fine for knowingly and intentionally not following safe work practices for the control of hazards when shutting down the flare, as well as a serious violation and $7,000 fine for giving workers the incorrect procedure for shutting down the flare.

Pollution Prevention Grant Aids NYC Restaurants

"This project will help restaurant owners reduce food waste and reduce the use of pesticides and chemicals, while also conserving energy and water. By taking steps to eliminate waste at the source, New York City restaurants can become models for sustainable practices," said EPA Regional Administrator Judith A. Enck.

Production Materials Become Hazardous Waste Practically Overnight—EPA's Perspective on Abandoned Commercial Chemical Products

EPA has made checklists available to the regulated community, including the associated guidance regarding abandoned CCPs.

INTERPOL Meeting Highlights Environmental Crimes

Experts participating in the Security and Environmental Crime conference issued a 15-point call for action to raise awareness and encourage greater involvement by the global community.

New Rules for Hazardous Waste Management and Waterway Protection

Earlier this week, the EPA announced two new rule proposals for hazardous waste management that would help protect waterways without heavy restrictions on businesses.

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Let's Be Frank about Fracking: Is Unconventional Gas and Oil Drilling Really Worth It?

Linked to earthquakes, water contamination, and general pollution, fracking becomes more controversial by the day. Meanwhile, 13,000 new wells are being drilled every year. There have been over a thousand documented cases of water contamination next to areas of gas drilling—cases of sensory, respiratory, cardiovascular and neurological damage. From the water we drink to the ground beneath our feet, is it too late to ask, “What gives?”

The EPA has awarded close to $600,000 in brownfields grants to help provide job training and environmental property assessments in Huntington and the southern region in West Virginia.

Brownfields Grants Boost Economy in West Virginia

The EPA has awarded close to $600,000 in brownfields grants to help provide job training and environmental property assessments in Huntington and the southern region in West Virginia.